Mychael is presently a stay-at-home dad volunteering with local and state committees in varied roles. He is excited and honored to have been elected as the Chair of the School-Based Health Alliance of Virginia.

He also currently serve as the Chair of National PTA’s Program’s Committee; the Chair of Williamsburg/James City County’s Special Education Advisory Committee; am an Executive Board member of the Williamsburg/James City County Schools Foundation; a Board of Trustees member of the Williamsburg Community Foundation; President of the Virginia Middle School Association and serve on the Board of Directors for the National Forum. Mychael continues to serve Virginia’s military families through my work on the Military Student Support Process Action Team and serve as the Treasurer and Board member of the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center. Before retiring, he worked with Alternatives Unlimited, a private organization as a Superintendent of their alternative schools. Before assuming that position, Mychael worked in the largest school system in the country, New York City Public Schools. He served as the Director of the Principal Candidate Pool, a Network Leader, and a Local Instructional Superintendent (LIS) in the city during my four years there as well as working a year with the Leadership Academy. He has taught at various colleges and have a keen interest in preparing future educators. Mychael is child centered, creative, enthusiastic, a risk taker, and a self-starter. I have always believed it is necessary to be visible and available. He believes it is imperative to also be an active member of the community. He has worked in urban, suburban, and rural school districts and have found the common thread that unites each of them is the quest for excellence in academics, the arts and athletics.

Mychael is creative; possess excellent communication skills; have a keen interest in developing schools of the future; have experience with technology in the workplace and in schools; a team player and team builder; have a commitment to life-long learning; and always manage to maintain my sense of humor. He is an accessible, visible communicator who is able to establish strong accountability measures, having gained professional experience in Maryland, Kansas, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Virginia. He believes in a rigorous academic curriculum and schools that embrace extensive athletic programs; diverse courses in the arts; intellectual curiosity and a true love for learning; effective oral and written communication; skills in mathematics and technology; ecological and aesthetic awareness; respect and compassion; and a global perspective and understanding of other cultures so that every graduate possesses the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue post secondary education.

Mychael’s present and past experiences in public education have afforded me some excellent opportunities that have resulted in improved student achievement at all levels. He is known to be a risk-taker with boundless energy and enthusiasm. He has always been a good listener and able to find future leaders. What draws me to supporting school-based health care is the difference Mychael knows we can make committing resources to families ensuring our children have the wrap around services they need to be successful in school and develop a healthy lifestyle with school-based health supports.

Judy attended Radford University and received a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She also has an M.S. in Learning Disabilities and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Throughout her professional career, she worked in public education for 40 years, serving 36 years in Montgomery County Public Schools. Judy worked in various capacities within the school division, including as a lead speech therapist, Assistant Principal, Coordinator for Related Programs (speech, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.), Coordinator for 504 Disabilities, and Director of Student Services and Safety. She completed her career as the Director of Equity and Inclusion for the school division and retired in June 2021. In her role as Director of Student Services, she oversaw the counseling department, school nurses, and services for students without shelter.

Judy has always been passionate about the overall well-being of all students, and school health programs are essential for enhancing academic success and improving attendance. Services provided in the school environment can help reduce barriers to student care and foster a sense of belonging. Most recently, she completed work with the Virginia Department of Education (2022-2024). She served as the program manager for a grant project that aimed to enhance school climate and reduce school referrals to the juvenile justice system. Judy’s primary role was to develop four professional training modules to assist school divisions in creating meaningful and supportive policies and responses to student conduct and behavior.

Judy is a life member of the Montgomery-Floyd-Radford City branch of the NAACP and served on the Education Committee. She is also a member of the Dialogue on Race, a local action-oriented, grassroots program that focuses on ending racial injustice against African Americans. She completed her term on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery Museum of Art and History, as well as my term on the Board of Directors for the New River Valley Community Services. Judy recently joined the Pinnacle Living Board of Directors. Pinnacle Living, formerly Virginia United Methodist Homes, is a not-for-profit organization that oversees four senior living communities in Virginia.

Judy is married to Jason Diggs, and we have two adult children, Jason (Karlie) and Jalin. Jalin is currently employed as a school counselor in Fairfax County Public Schools and is licensed-eligible for clinical counseling. We have three grandchildren, Aubree, Isaiah, and Elijah.

Brooke Crouch is a registered dental hygienist with over fourteen years of clinical experience, both in private practice and public health. She has provided mobile dentistry in both a school-based and nursing home setting and understands the challenges faced in accessing oral health care. Brooke has spent the last four years educating on prevention and minimally invasive dentistry to schools and public health associations across the country. Brooke has also worked closely with the Virginia Tech School of Medicine to implement fluoride varnish in the primary care setting in her home state of Virginia. She believes collaboration, innovation, and prevention are necessary for increasing access to care, reducing disease, and improving oral health for all.

Bio coming soon!

Mara Servaites, MSW, PCMH CCE, Executive Director, Virginia Telehealth Network and Virginia Telemental Health Initiative

Mara serves as the Executive Director of the Virginia Telehealth Network and the Virginia Telemental Health Initiative, the country’s first statewide virtual free mental health clinic.  She is an independent consultant for health and human resource organizations across the country, specifically focusing on safety net providers and rural health organizations.  She consults with a variety of health organizations ranging from foundations, hospitals, individual clinics, and collaborative groups.  Having worked first as a volunteer and then ultimately directing a free clinic to running a free clinic state association and now consulting with clinics, free and charitable clinics are her home.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Child Development from Virginia Tech and her Master of Social Work degree and Leadership Certificate in Nonprofit Management from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2013, she was one of the first in the country to become a Certified Content Expert (CCE) with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for Patient Medical Home Recognition (PCMH).  Mara lives in Virginia with her husband and two children.

Mara is pleased to serve on the SBHAVA to support access to health care services for all individuals.  School-based health care, particularly school-based telehealth services, provides an opportunity to serve children when care is needed, breaking down access barriers.  There is a value to offering a central space for these providers to connect and learn together.   

Jean Duetsch, DNP, CPNP-PC is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with the Community Health Center of the New River Valley (CHC), a federally qualified health clinic in Southwest Virginia. She, her husband, and their 5 children have lived in the New River Valley area since 1997. Prior to completing her graduate degrees in nursing, she worked as an RN and lactation consultant at a local hospital for over 20 years, where she witnessed significant health disparities in the local patient population. Since 2022, she has been involved in the CHC’s efforts to establish medical and dental clinics in local school districts, in order to expand access for medically underserved students in the New River Valley. She has been inspired by the impact this school-based clinic has had on students and families in the county it serves, from improving treatment of chronic conditions and addressing mental health challenges, to providing some students with the first dental care they have ever had. Jean is excited to be part of this initiative to expand school-based health options throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.